Apparatus for condensing steam.



D. B. MORISON.

APPARATUS FOR GONDENSING STEAM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1910.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

D. B. MORISON.

APPARATUS FOR GONDENSING STEAM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1910.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

D. B. MORISON.

APPARATUS FOR GONDENSING STEAM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 19, 1910.

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1). B. Momsom.

APPARATUS FOR OONDENSING STEAM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1910.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ow O00 O M MZCJCO O C 0 0 O O 0 A O O w o 000 F o 7 00 03000 Cc m Dm W O O 0 00 ,/o o O n. B. MORISON. APPARATUS FOR GONDENSING STEAM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1910.

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DONALD BARN'S MORIS ON, OF HARTLEPOOL, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING STEAM.

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specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 2?, 191%; Application filed March 19, 1910. Serial No. 559,336.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DONALD 'BARNs MORIr 1 son, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Hartlepool, in the county of Durham, England, have invented- Improvements in and Connected with Apparatus for Condensing Steam, of which the following is a s ecification.

I have found' hycareful investigation and experiment that heat transfer from the aerated vapor in a steam condenser tothe water in the condenser tubes is promoted by' the gradual decrease in 'the temperature of the aerated vapor from the exhaust steam: inlet to the point at which it is withdrawn lfJy the air withdrawing apparatus and that or a the di erence in temperature between these two points should be a maximum in order to ,favorably influence the air withdrawing capacity of the pump or other withdrawing apparatus. Also, that in condensers of considerable size, and especially in heavily loaded'condensers, the area necessary for the passage of the steam, in order to m1n1m1ze back pressure, is so great, that the creation,

by uniform distribution, of uniform flow over the condensing surface is necessary for high efficiency, Moreover, it is also necessary, for hi h efficiency, that the aerated vapor should ow uniformly and continuously, directly toward the inlet-or inlets of the next condensing compartment in the case of a multi-compartment condenser, 'o r continuously and uniformly over the whole condens- I ing surface of the water tubes near the outlet of the condensing compartment in a single compartment condenser, and that it should not be caused to produce-eddies or be deflected backward, so as to repass the condensing surface, in any plane transverse to the general direction of flow, past which it has already. once flowed, in order that the amount of air in any such plane should be maintained at a minimum and that, the efliciency of the surface in that plane, as deter-' mined by the presence of air, should be prejudiced to the least possible extent. Further more, when the mixture of air and vapor passes downwardly through a condenser, the vapor being gradually condensed, the quantity of the mixture remaining is gradually ing surface.

iven air leakage into the condenser,

device used should be as nearly equal as poslessened and its air richness'gradually increased, but the greater the air richness of culate uniformly over the available condens-- It is therefore particularly advantageous to avoid confusion of flow, and t9 promote concentration of flow of aerated vapor at or near to the point where the aerated vapor is withdrawn, either from one condensing compartment to the next, or finally from the condenser, and that the air withdrawing effect of the air withdrawing sible over the whole tube area from which the aerated va or finally flows and particularly over the nal condensing area.

As the various portions of a condenser are interdependent, the feature of obtaining the lowest final temperature of the. aerated vapor by apparatus causing uniformity of flow over the tube surface 'without undue confusion of flow, and also of causing concentration of flow in the manner described, may, with great practical advantage, be extended to the condenser as a whole, whether it comprises one condensing compartment,

or more than one condensing compartment, and also whether a final compartment contains tubes or is tubeless, and whether the condensing compartments, in the case of multiple compartments, are in serles, or 1 n parallel, or both in combination For this purpose, the condenser, or a ma1n condensing compartment, or the" condensing compartment immediately preceding a final condensing compartment, is provided wlth guide plates so,arranged as to divide the a cross section into sections that are arranged in parallel and each of WhlCh terminates n a narrow area in cross section, as at the thin edge of a wedge, so that the aerated vapor in each section is caused to flow in a practi- -cally uniform and even manner through the sections and is guided directly toward and delivered uniformly into thenext condensing compartment, or into the outlet chamber, as the case may be. The guide plates may be arranged in a more or less horizon tal or inclined position, or in a more or less vertical or upright position, from near the steam inlet of the compartment, or suitably lower down, to the outlet or outlets there from, and be of flat, curved or angular shape to suit the requirements of the particular condensing compartment in which they are placed. By these means, the aerated vapor is not only equally distributed but is uniformly guided to and concentrated at the point of discharge with a minimum of confusion or eddying.

My invention enables an important technical effect to be obtained in steam condensation in surface condensers, by providing for a minimum weight of air normally in the condenser, by means of multiple streams of flow in parallel toward and concentrated atthe area of discharge from which air is evenly withdrawn,.and also by providing for a maximum natural difference in temperature between the inlet and outlet of the condenser in order to favorably influence the withdrawing capacity of the air withdrawing device used. 7

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical cross section and Fig.2 a part sectional plan on the line A A of Fig. 1, showing one construction of steam condenser embodying the present invention. Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views to Figs. 1 and 2 respectively, showing a modified construction. Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views to Figs. 1 and 2 respectively and Fig. 7 a sectional elevation on the line B B of Fig. 5, showing another modified construction. Figs. 8 and 9 and Figs. 10 and 11 are similar views to Figs. 1 and 2 respectively showing further modified constructions of con densers according to the invention.

In the example shown in Figs. 1 and 2, i

the condenser a, of circular cross section, comprises a main condensing compartment Z) having an inlet at its upper end for exhaust steam and a final tubeless compartment 0 arranged below and separated from the main compartment by a perforated wall or diaphragm d and having an outlet 6 for connection to an air pump or other air and water withdrawing device. The condensing compartment Z) is provided with guide plates f, two in the example shown, which are so arranged as to divide the condensing compartment into a number of sections g, 71, i, that are arranged in parallel with each other and each of which terminates in a narrow longitudinal or wedge-like passage 7.. of small cross sectional area above the wall or diaphragm (Z. The perforations m in the wall or diaphragm (Z are made of gradually increasing cross sectional area from the central portion of the chamber 0 where the outlet e is placed, toward the ends and be guided directly toward and be delivered uniformly into the compartment c from which it is withdrawn through the outlet 6. Furthermore, the use of guide plates f as described tends not only to produce uniformity of flow over the surface of the condensing tubes n but also to effect a gradual concentration of flow into the discharge openings m and thence into the chamber 0, thereby preventing or minimizing any eddying or mixing up of the aerated vapor in its passage through the condenser in order to obtain the most uniform flow and the greatest temperature'reduction of the aerated vapor that the prevailing conditions will permit of. Such valuable practical results cannot be obtained with the constructions. of condenser now usually employed.

Figs. 3 and 4. show a similar construction of condenser to that shown in F igs. 1 and 2 except that the main condensing chamber a has its inlet for exhaust steam at one side and is made of gradually decreasing crosssectional area in a downward direct-ion, that is to say wedge shape, so that the lower ends of the outer sections g and z'of the condensing compartment 5 are more contracted at their lower ends than with the circular form of condensing chamber shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the plates f being suitably shaped to suit the condensing chamber.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the condenser a, of circular section, comprises a main condensing compartment 7) divided up into parallel sections g, 71 2' by division plates f, as in Fig. 1, a second and'relatively smaller condensingcompartment 0 in which the aerated vapor is further devaporized, and. a final tubeless compartment 0 having an air outlet e. The second condensing compartment 0 is separated by a wall or diaphragm d from the sections g, h, 2' of the main condensing compartment with which it communicates at one side through a longitudinal opening p and the narrow longitudinal passages ]c, the other side of the said second compartment 0 being in communication with the final outlet chamber 0 through a series 'of holes 9 in a dividing wall 1". The longitudinal opening p is of uniform width or.

area but the holes g are of increasing area as they proceed from the central portion of the wall 1', opposite the outlet 6, toward the ends of the chamber 0, in. order to induce the aerated vapor to How as nearly as possible transversely through the chamber 0 which it is discharged through a separate outlet t while the aerated vapor is drawn transversely through the said chamber 0 into the outlet chamber c and thence passes to the air pump or equivalent.

In the modified construction shown in Figs 8 and 9, the second and smaller condenslng'compartment o'is provided with a longitudinal guide plate u that extends from one end of the condenser to within a short distance of the other end thereof so-as to form two parallel passages connected by an opening o. Une of the parallel passages communicates with the sections 9, h, 2' of the main condensing chamber through an opening ;0 in the wall or diaphragm 03, such opening being more or less of wedge shape, with the widest part farthermost from the opening 1) with a view of promoting uniform How of aerated vapor throughout the whole length of the condensing sections into the first portion of the second condensing com partment 0 for the purpose set forth, the aerated vapor entering one end of the sec- 0nd portion of such second condensing com partment through the opening '0 and leaving it at the other end through the outlet e. v

The water of condensation leaves the second condensing chamber through a separate outo 7 let ("3, as in Figs. 5 and 6. in this example the second condensing chamber 0 is arranged above a water cooler w in the baseot the condenser through which water can be passed from the inlet w? to the outlet 10 and cooled and thence delivered into the air pump, or air pump suction pipe, for further-cooling the air and vapor delivered to such pump for a purpose well understood.

in the modified construction shown in Figs. 10 and 11 the final condensing com- 1 partment -0 is placed in the base of the con denser a and separated from the main condenser portion 5 by the diaphragm or .division plate d which is provided with holes a: through which the mixture of air andvapor passes to the nal condensing compartment,

0. The holes :20 are of wedge shape, the

, widest part of each'wedge being nearest to the adjacent sideof the condenser andthe narrowest part at. the center line otthe late d; Or the plate a! may be provided witha larger number of circular holes of varying size, leading to the final compartment 0,.the area of such inlets increasing the greater the distance they are from the outlet 6, which,

in this example, is shown as abent pipe ex tending from the center of the bottom of the compartment 0 to one side thereof. The water of condensation, if withdrawn by a separate water pump, drains into a receptacle y provided with an outlet 2. Although the division plate (Z is shown horizontal, it is to be understood that it may be inclined, or it may be convex or concave, so as to drain Water of condensation falling thereon to the sides or center-of the condenser, depending on any particular conditions and requirements.

The most suitable height of the guide plates f arranged in a condenser according to myinvention, depends on the conditions;

prevailing and-may be varied as desired.

As the outlet is of each sectional condensmg compartment 9, h, i is of small cross sectional area relatively to the area of exhaust steam inlet a as the .cross sectional area diminishes gradually, and the guide plates 7 tend to obviate confused flow, the aerated vapor is gradually lowered in temperature and fiows'uniformly and continuously forward to the final chamber 0 or 0, asthe case may be, in a condition best adapted for its withdrawal by an air pump and in a manner best adapted to minimize the quantity of air; remaining normally in the condenser.

The obtaining in a condenser ofan ap-. proximately equal vacuum throughout, of a minimum weight of air normally in the condenser, and also a minimum temperature at the air suction pipe at the base of the condenser, relatively to the temperature of the H exhaust steam at the inlet at the top of the condenser, constitute a technical efiect of greatpractical value, in that'the condensing efliciency of the entire condenser is very advantageously effected thereby.

The importance of theinvention' hereinbefore described will be best understood and realized by the knowledge that the presence of air" in steam in a surface condenser has a highly prejudicial efiect on the heat trans- L ference efficiency of the condensing tuhe surface in the condenser. inite temperature corresponding to any pressure of saturated steam, and there is also a There is also a defidefinite' and lower temperature correspondingto every proportion of air to steam in saturated-air at everyr-pressure, so that it follows that for a given amount of air entering a condenser, thezless the weight of air remainiiignormallydn the condenser, or any'compartment thereof, and the lower the final temperature'relatively to the inlet temperature, the greater will be the amount of .heat transference from the steam to th coolto be obtained than is obtainable by steam condensing apparatus at present in use orv hitherto proposed.

What I claim is condensing compartment having guide plates arranged to form therein a plurality of con-' densing-sections arranged in parallel and through which steam admitted to the compartment will simultaneously flow toward the outlet of said compartment.

2. In steam condensing apparatus, asteam condensing compartment having therein a series of condensing sections arranged in parallel and of decreasing cross sectional area toward the outlet thereof.

3. In steam condensing apparatus, a steam condensing compartment having therein a.

plurality of wedge shaped condensing sections arranged in parallel.

4. In steam condensing apparatus, asteam condensing compartment having therein a plurality of guide plates arranged to divide the cross section of said compartment into a plurality of parallel condensing sections the outlet portions of which are of decreasing cross sectional area.

5. In steamcondensing apparatus, a steam condensing compartment having therein a plurality of guide plates arranged to divide the cross section of. said compartment into a plurality of wedge shaped condensing secin parallel and of decreasing cross sectional area toward the outlet of said'compartment.

tions arranged in parallel and the narrowest ends of which are nearestthe outlet from the compartment.

6. In steam condensing apparatus, a steam condensing compartment provided with condensing tubes, and a series of guide plates arranged between some of the tubes to form a plurality of condensing sections arranged 7. In steam condensing a paratus, a steam condensing chamberprovi ed with'condensmg tubes, an outlet chamber in communication with-said condensing chamber and 'having an outlet for fluid,-and a seriesof guide plates arranged between some ofthe tubes to form a series of condensing sections ar-- ranged in parallel and of decreasing cross sectional area, the smaller ends of said sectionsbeing near to the outlet chamber.

8. In steam condensing apparatus, a steam condensing chamber provided with condensing tubes, an outlet chamber in communica-- tlon with said condensing chamberv and hav-' mg an outlet for fluid, and a series ofguide plates arranged betweensome of the-tubes ammo to form a series of wedge shaped condensing sections the smaller ends of which are next the outlet chamber.

'9. In steam condensing apparatus, a steam condensing compartment provided with condensing tubes, anoutlet chamber, a diaphragm between said compartment and chamber adapted to afford communication between said compartment and chamber for passage of fluid from one to the other, and 1. In steam condensing apparatus, a steam decreasing cross sectional area toward their outlets, an outlet chamber in communication with said condensing sections, an air outlet in communication with said outlet chamber and a division arranged between said condensing compartment and air outlet and formed with an airway the'cross sectional areaofthose parts'of which that are farthest from the air outlet is greater thanthat of the parts thereof nearest the said air outlet.

11. In steam condensing apparatus, a steam condensing compartment, an outlet chamber in communication with the said condensing compartment and having an outlet for air, guideplates arranged in said steam condensing compartment to form a plurality of condensing sect-ions arranged in parallel and having narrow outlets terminating near to the inlet to the outlet chamber and means for promotin uniformity of flow of air from the con ensing sections through-said outlet chamber to said air outlet. v

12. In steam condensing apparatus, a steam condensing compartment, an outlet chamber arranged in communication with said condensing compartment and having an outlet for air, guide plates arranged in said condensing compartment to form a plurality of condensing sections arranged in parallel and having narrow outlets near to the communication between the compartment and chamber-and a diaphragm arranged between parts that are nearer to the said outlet, for

the purpose set forth.

13. In steam condensing apparatus, a steam condensing compartment, an outletchamber arranged in communication with saidcondensing compartment and having an outlet for air, guide plates arranged in said.

condensing compartment to form a plurality 01 wedge shaped condensing sections arranged 1n parallel and having their small exit ends near to the'inlet to said chamber, and a diaphragm arranged between the condensing compartment and the outlet of the said chamber and adapted to provide an airway between said condensing sections and the said air outlet, the parts of said airway that are farthest from the said outlet being of larger cross sectional area than parts that are nearer to the said outlet, for the purpose set forth. v

14. In steam condensing apparatus, a

steam condensing compartment, an outletchamber arranged in communication with said condensing compartment and having an outlet-for air, guide plates arranged in said condensing compartment to form a plurality I of Wedge shaped condensing sections arranged in parallel and having their small exit ends near to the inlet to said chamber, anda perforated diaphragm arranged be tween the condensing compartment and the outlet of said outlet chamber, the perforations in said diaphragm .being arranged to provide airways of greater cross sectional area the farther they are from the said outlet, substantially as described for the purchamber arranged in communication with' said condensipg compartment and provided with condensing tubes to form a supplementary condensing chamber, said chamber being in communication at one side with the opposite side with an air outlet, and guide plates arranged between tubes in the main condensing compartment to form a plurality of condensing sections arranged in parallel and having their smaller ends terminating near to the communication with the supplementary condensing chamber.

.17. main, steam condensing compartment provided with condensing tubes, an" outlet said main compartment and provided at In steam condensing apparatus achamber arranged in communication with said condensing compartment and provided with condensing tubes to form a supplementary condensing chamber, guide plates arranged between tubes in the main condensing compartment to form a plurality of condensing sections arranged in parallel and having their smaller ends terminating near to the communication with the supplementary condensing section, and means for promoting uniformity of flo-w of fluid from the,

main condensing compartment to and through the supplementary condensing chamber to the outlet of said chamber.

18. In steam condensing apparatus, a main steam condensing compartment provided with condensing tubes, an outlet chamber arranged in communication with said condensing compartment and provided with condensing tubes to form a supplementary condensing chamber, guide plates arranged between tubes in saidcondensing compartment to form a plurality of condensing sections that are arranged in parallel, are of gradually decreasing cross sectional area and terminate near to the inlet of the'supplementary condensing chamber, and means for promoting uniformity of flow of fluid from the main condensing compartment to and through the supplementary condensing chamber to the outlet of said chamber.

19. In steam condensing apparatus, a main steam condensing compartment provided with condensing tubes, guide plates arranged between tubes in said compartment to form a plurality of condensing sections of gradually decreasing cross sectional area,

the outlet of said condensing sections converging and terminating near together, a supplementary condensing chamber provided with condensing tubes and communieating at one side with the main condensing compartment through an opening below the outlet ends of said condensing sections, and provided at the other side with an air outlet for air, and a perforated division plate arranged at the outlet side of said supplementary condensing chamberso as to form therewith an outlet chamber, the perforations in said plate being arranged to form airways of gradually increasing cross sectional area the farther they are from said outlet, for

the purpose set forth.

20. In steam condensing apparatus, a main ,steam condensing compartment rovided -with condensing tubes, guide p ates arranged between tubes in said compartment to form a plurality of condensing sectlons of gradually decreasing cross sectional area, the outlet of said condensing sections converging and terminating near together, a

supplementary condensing chamber provided with condensing tubesv and comm'unieating at one side with the main condensing compartment through at opening below the outlet ends of said condensing sections, and provided at the other side with an outlet for air and at its lower side with an outlet for water of condensation and a perforated division plate arranged at the outer side of saidsupplementary condensing chamber so as to form therewith an outlet chamber, the

perforations in said plate being arranged to form airways of gradually increasing cross 10 sectional area the farther they are from said outlet, for the purpose set forth.

Signed at Hartlepool England this eleventh day of March 1910.

DONALD BARNS MORISON. Witnesses:

HARRY GOTHEYILL, HUBERT BOWEN. 

